What is your first step?
Hello,
And welcome to the Lunar Guided Meditation series.
My name is Lauren,
And I will be your guide for this meditation.
Let's take a moment together to be here and get settled in for our practice.
Take some time to get into a comfortable position,
Whether seated or lying down,
Or maybe even while walking.
Take a deep breath in,
Drawing air in through your nose,
Down to the center of your body,
Followed by a slow exhale,
Air flowing back out.
You are here.
For this meditation,
We will be focusing on clarity.
We are often faced with decisions that serve as a sounding board for our authentic self.
Sometimes making these decisions is hard and feels daunting.
Or at times we may act before thinking,
Feeling a sense of loss.
Maybe you're not sure how to take the first step.
You've already made some success just by showing up here for yourself and by taking action to support yourself in the ways you know you need.
You've already begun to be more present and aware,
And I invite you to start to become more aware of your breathing,
Just noticing it.
Maybe you notice the way your chest rises as you inhale,
Or the quiet sound the air makes flowing through your mouth or nose as you exhale.
Maybe you notice the way each breath moves you softly and subtly.
I invite you to follow your breath,
Deepening your awareness as you deepen your breathing.
Breathe in the way that makes you feel most natural and comfortable,
Trusting your body.
Inhaling and exhaling.
Noticing the ebb and flow.
Many things,
If not almost all things,
Follow the cyclical nature,
The ebb and flow,
The waxing and waning.
It is a part of our natural world,
Just like we too are a part of our natural world.
Inhaling and exhaling,
Ebbing and flowing,
Waxing and waning.
The moon also takes part in this natural rhythm,
Filling and emptying,
Balancing light and dark,
Moving to a soft,
Subtle rhythm.
When the moon is at the first quarter,
It is half darkness and half light.
The moon,
Just like us,
Is caught in a liminal space.
Except the moon knows its journey.
It is certain of its decisions and trusts that it will return to a state of wholeness,
Intuitively,
Genuinely,
In its own time.
With this in mind,
I invite you to return your focus to your breathing,
That each breath has an opportunity to take action.
As you bring awareness to your breath,
You quickly will see how you can control and direct your breath.
Maybe you choose to deepen it.
Maybe you allow it to flow passively.
Maybe you send it down deep into your belly.
Maybe you slow it down.
Your breath is not just a vital function,
But a powerful tool to help maintain and heal your body.
Let's use our breath to help align us with this message from the first quarter moon.
I invite you to continue to bring your awareness back to your breath.
It is okay if you get distracted.
You have a wonderful brain with many thoughts.
This is normal.
All you need to do is gently remind yourself of your breathing and come back to it as often as you need to.
As you inhale,
Begin to notice the way it feels,
Taking time to be mindful of your mind,
Body,
And environment.
Just take note.
There is nothing to judge or nothing you need to do.
You are already doing everything you have to,
Just by being here.
Rely on your senses to guide your awareness.
As I inhale,
I am aware of my breathing.
As you continue to breathe,
I now invite you to shift your attention to your exhale,
Continuing to notice your mind,
Body,
And environment,
Staying mindful,
Noticing how it feels to take control of your breathing or to not.
As I inhale,
I am aware of my breathing.
As I exhale,
I am open to action.
Repeating this to yourself with each inhale and exhale,
Using these words to help guide you to action and motivation.
What is your first step?
Be well.
